Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the fastest rider in what was finally a form of “hybrid” Jerez preseason shakedown test for most of the new WorldSBK grid. The action was split between a one-day test in dry but very windy track conditions and a subsequent second-day session, held in the wet from start to finish.
Bulega’s best dry time of 1:38.731 was forty-five hundredths of a second faster than the next rider, Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven Ducati). Like most riders, these two did not compete on the second day, when rain and a wet track surface were present all day.
A remarkable first Ducati comeback ride for Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo Racing Ducati) placed him third quickest, ahead of the only Kawasaki rider in the entire championship in 2025, Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team). He is, at least, a full factory rider.
Axel Bassani (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was fifth on the new Kawasaki-powered KB998 Rimini bike, complete with variable winglets. Bassani was one of those lucky few who rode on the wet second day.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) was sixth overall, with Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) seventh on a works Honda that has returned to Ohlins suspension for 2025. Petrucci, with his fastest time of 1:39.548, was the last rider in the same second as the fastest man, Bulega.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was eighth overall, with the Lowes boys—Sam (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati) and Alex (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team)—rounding out the top 10, in that order.
Notable absentee on the new-for-2025 BMW M 1000 RR was Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) after injuring his right middle finger in an off-road training crash. He hopes to be at Portimao for the next test, between January 28 and 29. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) was another high-profile absentee due to an off-season training injury.
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was at Jerez and finished 11th fastest on the refreshed 2025 model BMW. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took home the status of top Yamaha rider on site in 12th place.
On a wet day two, only a few top names ventured out on track, with Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) going from 13th on a dry Wednesday to the fastest wet-weather rider on Thursday.
The track action across what was, in reality, three days of testing included some WorldSSP riders who were on track on Tuesday, January 21, and even some on Wednesday, mixing it up with the Superbikes.
There were also some test riders for the new BbKRT project who were out on track one day before the regular riders took to the circuit. Most notably, Xavi Fores, who is a new lead test rider for Bimota.
Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing Ducati) was the fastest WorldSSP on the mixed WorldSSP/WorldSBK day on Wednesday, but he had earlier had to give best to returning WorldSSP rider Philipp Ottl (Team Feel Racing Ducati) on the opening day of WorldSSP action.
OVERALL (Top 5)
- Nicolo Bulega (Duc) 1:38.731
- Andrea Iannone (Duc) 1:39.181
- Scott Redding (Duc) 1:39.280
- Garrett Gerloff (Kaw) 1:39.332
- Axel Bassani (Bim) 1:39.463
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